Carrier for pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

, 0. P. STODDARD. CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 20, 1904. RENEWED JULY 28, 1906.

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No. 842,355. PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

G. F. STODDARD.

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC DEISPATGH TUBE APPARATUS; APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1904. RENEWED JULY 28, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMER- ICAN PNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

and useful Improvements in Carriers for' Pneumatic Despatch Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in carriers for pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus, and especially to such carriers wherein mail-matter and merchandise are transmitted through a pneumatic-despatch tube.

The object of my invention is to produce a carrier simple in construction and which cannot be inserted into the tube until the cover.

is absolutely closed and locked to the carrier.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the rear end of the carrier with the parts in their positions when the carrier is ready to be despatched and the cover locked to the shell of the carrier. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but with the safety-lever thrown into the opposite position. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 except that the locking-lever is thrown into its opposite position and the cover is unlocked from the shell of the carrier. Fig. 4 is a section through the locking mechanism on the line X Y, Fig. 1, with. the parts in locked position, showing the locking-bolt in full lines.

Fig. .5 is a side elevation of the rear end of the carrier, partly in section, taken on the line X Y, Fig. 3, with the parts in their unlocked ositions and showing the locking- 'bolt in ull lines. Fig. 6 is a section through the rear end of the carrier on the line Vv V, Fig. 3, showing the position of the parts when the cover is opened. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line W W, Fig. 1, showing the parts in their positions when the carrier is closed and locked ready to be despatched.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

B represents the shell of the carrier, the top of which is reinforced by the band D. To the shell B by means of the hinge A is pivoted the cover A. The upper portion of the cam-bolt A is securely fastened to .the lever A at A in such a way that the cam-bolt A which locks the cover to the shell of the carrier, may be swung around by the lever A The safety-lever C is pivotally connected to the cover A at C in such a way that it can swing freely on the pivotC and will carry the locking-bolt C with it in its movements. The portions of the locking-lever A and the safety-lever C immediately around their pivots A and C are so sha ed as to form an interlocking device, so that it is possible to swing the lever A only when the lever C is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and possible to swing the safety-lever C only when the lock ing-lever A is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The cam portion A of the cam-bolt A is shown in dotted lines, Figs 1, 2, and 3, and full lines, Figs. 4 and 5, and it is so sha ed that the. side A will not extend into the s ots B, B and B in the cover A shell B, and reinforcing-band D, respectively, when said cam-bolt A is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, in which position the cover A is not locked to the shell B. When the cam-bolt A is swung into the position shown in Fig. 4, the cam portion A extends into the slots B, B and B In Fig. 3, which shows the locking parts in their positions when the cover A is not locked to the shell B, it will be seen that the lever A can be freely moved into the positionshown in Fig. 2, but the safety-lever C cannot be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3. The convex rounding portion A of the leverA and the concave rounding portion C of the lever C are concentric with the pivbt A, upon which the lever A swings. This arrangement makes it impossible to swing the safety-lever C into the position shown in Fig. 1 until the lever A is swung into the position shown in Fig. 2, which brings the concave rounding portion A of the lever A concentric with the pivot C upon which the safety-lever C swings. The convex rounding'portion C of the safetv-lever C is concentric with the pivot C on which the safetylever C swings, and constructed to mesh with the concave rounding portion A of the lever A when said lever A is in the position shown in Fig. 2. so that it is possible with the lever A in this position to swing the safetylever C into the position shown in Fig. 1. This safety-lever C is pivoted near the -periphery of the cover A, so that when it is swung into the position shown in Fig. 3 it extends beyond the circumferential limits of the carrier and makes it impossible to insert the carrier into the transmission-tube and also makes it impossible for the lever C to be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 while the carrier is in the transmission-tube. As before explained, when the cover A is unlocked from the shell B the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the cycle of operation of the lock is as follows: The cover A being swung upon the hinge A into its closed position, (shown in Fig. 5,) the lever A swings into the position shown in Fig. 2, the motion being limited by the shoulder C, which engages the safetylever C, (shown in Fig. 2,) when the proper position of the lever A is reached. Then the safety-lever C is swung into the position shown in Fig. 1, leaving the carrier locked and ready for transmission. When the lever A is swung away from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, the cam-bolt A, being securely fastened thereto, swings with the lever A and the cam portion A moves into said slots B, B and B Fig. 4. Then the lever C is swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, which causes the cover to be held locked to the shell of the carrier. In unlocking the cover A it is necessary to swing the safetylever C from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 before the lever A can be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, because the convex rounding portion C of the safety-lever C is meshed with the concave rounding portion A of the lever A After the safety-lever C is swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 the lever A is swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, thereby locking the safetylever C into the position shown in Fig. 3, because the convex rounding portion A of the lever A is meshed with the concave rounding portion C of the lever C. The shoulder C of the safety-lever C limits the motion of the safety-lever C when it is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1. When the saiety-lever C is swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the portion C engages the shoulder C of the lever A thereby limiting the swing of the safety-lever C in this direction. The motion of the lever A in swinging from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 is limited by the portion A of the lever A engaging the conveX rounding portion C of the safety-lever C. To the under side of the cover A is secured by suitable bolts S the rear end of the spring S, which is constructed with an opening S at its front end, in which moves the locking-bolt C. Upon the locking-bolt C is the extended portion C, which when the locking-lever C is in the position shown in Fig. 2 comes directly opposite the extended cut-away portion S of the spring S, so that when the cover A is raised,

as shown in Fig. 6, the spring S will drop down so that the extended cut-away portion S 01" the opening S in the spring S will come over the extended portion C of the lockingbolt C, so that the safety-lever C cannot swing from the position shown in Fig. 2- until the cover is again closed tightly, be cause when the cover A is closed the end S of'the spring S engages the shell B of the carrier and pushes the spring S from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig 7. This allows the extended portion C of the locking-bolt C to swing under the spring S, as shown in Fig. 7, upon the operation of the safety-lever C into the position shown. in Fig. 1.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a carrier for pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a cover, locking mechanism for securing the cover to the shell of the carrier, means for holding said locking mechanism against movement when the cover is locked to the shell of the carrier, a device for locking said holding mechanism against movement when the cover is open, and means for releasing said holding mechanism when the cover is moved into locking position on the shell of the carrier.

2. In a carrier for pneumatic-despatch tube apparatus, a cover, locking mechanism for securing the cover to the shell of the carrier, mechanism engaging with said locking mechanism for holding said locking mechanism against movement when the cover is locked to the shell of the carrier, a device for locking said holding mechanism against movement when the cover is open, and means for releasing said holding mechanism when the cover is moved into locking position on the shell of the carrier.

3. In a carrier for pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a cover, a bolt for locking said cover to the shell of the carrier, a locking-lever for operating said bolt to lock and unlock the same, a safety-lever cooperating with said locking-lever for holding said locking-lever against movement when the cover is locked to the shell of the carrier, a device for locking said safety-lever against movement when the cover is open, and means for releasing said safety-lever when the cover is and means for releasing saidsafety-lever when the cover is moved into locking position on the shell of the carrier.

5. In a carrier for pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a cover, a bolt for locking said cover to the shell of the carrier, a locking-lever for operating said bolt to lock and unlock the same, a safety-lever engaging and cooperating with said locking-lever, the said levers being provided with interacting parts for preventing the-operation of the lockinglever when the cover is locked to the shell of the carrier, a device for looking said safetylever against movement when the cover is open, and means for releasing said safetylever when the cover is moved into locking position on the shell of the carrier.

6. I11 a carrier for pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a cover, a bolt for locking said cover to the shell of the carrier, a locking-lever for operating said bolt to lock and unlock the same, a safety-lever engaging and cooperating with said locking-lever for hold-.

ing said looking-lever against movement when the cover is locked to the shell of the carrier and extending beyond the periphery of the carrier to prevent the insertion of the carrier into the transmission-tube when removed from looking engagement with the locking-lever, a device for locking said safetylever against movement when the cover is open, and means for releasing said safetylever when the cover is moved into locking position on the shell of the carrier.

7. In a carrier for pneumatic-despatchtube apparatus, a cover, a cam-bolt for look ing said cover to the shell of the carrier, a locking-lever for operating said bolt to lock and unlock the same, a safety-lever engaging and cooperating with said locking-lever for holding said locking-lever against move ment when the cover is locked to the shell of the carrier, and extending beyond the periphery of the carrier to prevent the insertion of the carrier into the transmission-tube when removed from looking engagement with the locking-lever, a device for locking said safety-lever against movement when the cover is open, and means for releasing said safety-lever when the cover is moved into locking position on the shell of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of May, A. D. 1904.

CHARLES F. STODDARD. Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, E. L. HARLOW. 

